While it might seem odd that an American fighter plane used a British engine, there's a story behind it:
* Early P-51s used the Allison V-1710 engine: This American engine was less powerful and gave the Mustang a poor high-altitude performance.
* The Merlin engine was a game changer: The Merlin was a powerful and reliable engine that significantly improved the Mustang's performance, especially at higher altitudes.
* The partnership was born out of necessity: During World War II, the US needed a reliable engine for their aircraft, and the Merlin engine was readily available.
The Merlin engine powered the P-51 Mustang to become one of the most successful fighter planes in history.
